A Rising Concern: Failures of Adhered Rigid Insulation

Abstract: The roofing assembly must resist numerous challenges to effectively separate the interior building environment from the exterior. When properly designed and constructed, roofing assemblies can provide many years of service. Conversely, poorly secured roofing assemblies are unable to resist significant wind loads and are likely to become detached or damaged from wind events well below their designed tolerances. Recent investigations of several buildings have shown the presenter that design and installation defects of adhered rigid insulation are often major contributors to roofing assembly failure. He will describe several adhesive failure mechanisms and discuss potential lessons from these failures.